Wes Welker gets a lot of work in a little action

Posted by NBC Sports on August 19, 2010, 9:28 PM EDT

It wasn’t that long ago that conventional wisdom said Wes Welker would miss a big chunk of the season after undergoing ACL surgery in February.

Yet there he was Thursday night, playing preseason football on artificial turf against the Falcons. Welker played only one series Thursday night, so Tom Brady made sure his slot receiver got plenty of action.

Welker didn’t start, but played six snaps on the Patriots’ opening series. He caught a six-yard pass on his first play, and then grabbed a 14-yarder on the next one. Tom Brady threw the second pass behind Welker; otherwise, the play could have gone for more yardage.

The Patriots continued to feed Welker on the next play, but Randy Moss whiffed on a block and Welker was flattened on a quick toss. The ball fell incomplete and Welker stayed on the field for three more uneventful snaps.

It’s hard to draw many conclusions from six plays, but Welker’s presence alone provides a huge boost to a Patriots offense that should look a lot different in 2010. (Think lots of two tight end sets.)

dont be a hater kirkland, Welker is one of the good guys. He fought back from a bad injury and played well in preseason, that is a sweet story. He doesnt fake migranes to get out of practice like pervy harvin.

3 decent tight ends.
2 excellent slot recievers.
2+ decent old school RB’s.
2 Veteran RB/Backfield/Slot R Patriots Playmakers.
1 Hall of Fame Wide Receiver, in contract year.
1 Hall of Fame Quaterback, with high accuracy backup.
The Ability to drive Rex Ryan’s defenses into highpower F-bomb frustration? Priceless.
This plus a youthful spped/height based defense and the best special teams work I’ve seen out of the Pats since Parcells…..
At the end of last year I figured we were looking at an 8-8 team. I think I was wrong.
One more time around…

3 decent tight ends.
2 excellent slot recievers.
2+ decent old school RB’s.
2 Veteran RB/Backfield/Slot R Patriots Playmakers.
1 Hall of Fame Wide Receiver, in contract year.
1 Hall of Fame Quaterback, with high accuracy backup.
The Ability to drive Rex Ryan’s defenses into highpower F-bomb frustration? Priceless.
This plus a youthful spped/height based defense and the best special teams work I’ve seen out of the Pats since Parcells…..
At the end of last year I figured we were looking at an 8-8 team. I think I was wrong.
One more time around…

Amazing that he is back playing after only six months. The guy must have busted every rehab schedule he was given.
Not a Patriots fan, but Welker is a trooper and I hope he comes back strong. He is a true professional.

@vikeshavenosuperbowls,
yeah, i just watched the weather channel, and i must warn you, since your dial up internet may be running slow, due to a past due balance.
Breaking news- A tornado is heading straight toward the Trailer Park you live in. I know that given the fact that you have 11 kids, and they dont pay nearly enough welfare in Green Bay, WI. Darn republicans……..so please go to the nearest flag pole, you know the one in front of your trailer, with the confederate flag.
Please hold on to it tight…As the tornado is eager and hungry to swallow up a double wide, and top it off with some well done trailer trash!!!!!
God Bless Percy Harvin…….

Way to be Wes!! What more can you say. Add his picture next to Bruschi’s when you look in an encyclopedia under football player.
Regarding the lots of two tightends comment.. finally we have a pair of legit targets who can also provide protection. I will take Gronkowski and Hernandez all day long vs. linebackers.
Time to head back to the “bread ‘n butter” play; but this time no Coates.

HGH…
Owen Daniels blew out his knee like 9 weeks earlier than Wes Welker and he hasnt even started practicing yet. Since this is the final year before the new CBA allows for HGH testing I am pretty sure I would use HGH to come back as fast as possible too. Especially since the Pats have already found a replacement Wes Welker clone. If I were Julian Edelman I would call in an anonymous tip to the league office and get Welker tested immediately…

Hard to like guys like Thomlinson who make excuses about being hurt when someone like Welker staples his knee back on and gets back to work and never complains.
Speaking of staplers, Rex Ryan just ate mine.

Wes is the man! I’d say another 1000+ yd season is in order. That will tie him with Marvin Harrison. Stay healthy Wes!
@football genius Dude what kind of football? The futbol kind. LOL That defense that sucked held Hotlanta to 3 points???

From Boston, Massachusetts- The students of Massachusetts finished #1 in the country. The real estate market in this area is stable. The crime rate is low. Our state is in good fiscal order. We have a city you can walk around in and enjoy good food and see the sights. We have a long and storied history. It is called The Athens of America. To the critics from the various shitholes around the country who seek to degrade us while sitting in your local Taco Bell eating your $1.00 dinner, stay away from here. You could not afford to come here. Your IQ would interfere with navigating the city. We name streets, not number them for the retards like you. There is a Red Sox telethon going on for a local cancer center in which they hope to match last years figure of $3, 000,000. In your area that is not even conceivable. The sun is getting high in the sky so crawl under your rock.

‘But that defense sucks.”
Based on what, the starting defense allowed 3 points.
—————————————————-
Shhh Sloan, let them think that. Yep our D sucks. Like Detriot sucks. Now stop reading.
We won’t mention the steal we got in the middle with Spikes. Spikes/Mayo have the potential to be the best MLB group in the league, if Spikes grows to his potential.
Or McCourty’s numerous plays, and hits like a Safety. Just what I would expect from a 1st round DB. This kid looks like a true shutdown corner after he gets used to the pro game.
Or that Chung took Pro-Bowler Merriwether’s spot last night, and was better at it. Breakout year for this kid.
Or that two teams in a row couldn’t run on this D.
These guys were 11th overall defense last year, and this group is faster, gutsier and better from everything I’ve seen. Unlike last year, this group looks hungry. And mean. They did not like the feeling of the Ravens game, or I bet the ass chewing they got by Brady, and uncomfortable silence from Bill. This group is going to make the occasional mistake but…
The Offense will more than make up for that. They are going to give teams fits. Like 07, it is going to come from 100 different directions..Running attack has looked very un-Patriotlike..meaning good, TE’s added to the Welker/Moss nightmare, then Tate/Edelman have the potential to be as dangerous as their mentors.
And our GQ best QB in the game making the train go. They will be #1 or 2 in offense this year.
And all you have to do at the end of the day is score more than the other guy. I think this team can do that.